Fly Thru the Chaos

Category: Art

  • Acts of Hope

    I have been thinking a lot about how to defend myself against despair.  During the pandemic, I realized that I needed a sense of self and a philosophy that was not tied to a certain future or stable external systems.  I read books on happiness, neurology and Man’s Search for Meaning.  I rode my bike…

  • Communication or Representation

    I think I am just starting to realize how much my art is separated from my source material.  There is a particular effect I’ve experienced that makes me think I may be drawing from my own mental model just as much as from a reference. I have no trouble drawing portraits in most circumstances.  But I have…

  • Just Wasting Time

    My husband asked last night if writing our book was “worth it.”   I asked “Worth what?” He said “You know… Our time?”   I just laughed and said “Definitely, our time is worthless!” Which, I know, seems like a flippant response for a moment of vulnerability.  However, I don’t think it’s helpful to give feelings of doubt…

  • Me and My Shadow

    Me and My Shadow

    Under the sun, she’s down at my feet Sitting there, all tiny and neat Slowly she grows, then taller still Longer, in fact, than I ever will Following me, as fast as I run Multiplying, I’ve never won In twilight she walks through the trees Cutting me off, right at the knees Then in the…

  • Creation Without Magic

    What is Creation without Magic?  Mere craft? Decoration? Assembly? When I was a teenager, I’ll never forgive my art teacher for breaking my concept of art.  To be fair to him, it was all in the best intentions.  And it wasn’t all his fault.  I didn’t have to listen. I had many flaws in my…

  • 2023: The Year of the Trickster

    Ever since I read Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert, I have taken a lot of what she said to heart. The purpose of the book was to discuss the perspectives people take on their art and creativity.  One of my favorite things that she wrote about was Tricksters and Martyrs.  When I was a little…

  • Zoe and Bios

    Today I was reading Twyla Tharp’s book, the Creative Habit, and I nearly put it down for good a couple weeks ago.  But today I picked it up, I suppose my ruffled feathers from before have been forgotten.  I am not a very habitual person, consistency is something hard won from me and someone telling…

  • His Dark Materials: My Dæmon Settles

    Kind of for my birthday, kind of for my project with the children’s book, I bought some pastel pencils.  I had never heard of pastel pencils until I was on instagram this year and watched people use them.  They aren’t the kind of thing public schools buy for children, and high school was the last…

  • My Picture Book

    Today I’ll tell you the story of how I first was inspired to write a book.  It was the most magical, nearly fully formed idea I’ve ever had, and I am so excited to realize it as well as I can. It starts with the book Big Magic by Liz Gilbert.  Yes, the Eat, Pray,…